The name Keningau is derived from the locally-abundant Javanesecinnamon tree (Cinnamomum burmannii) which is locally known as Koningau. The tree is known as 'Kayu Manis' in Malay, and is sometimes also referred to as the 'king of spices'. The bark of this tree was collected by the British North Borneo Company to be sold as a spice. During the British colonial era, Keningau was one of the most important administrative centres in British North Borneo. The Japanese also used Keningau as one of its main administrative centres during their occupation of Sabah in World War II.

Keningau District covers an area of 3532.82 km² (1364 sq mi). It is situated in a valley bordered by the Crocker Range to the west and the Trus Madi Range to the east and south. The district consists of 43 mukims and 245 villages.[1]

Keningau's population was estimated in 2010 at 173,103.[2] Of this, 90% are Dusuns and Muruts, 8% are Chinese (of whom most are Hakka Chinese) and the balance is divided between other indigenous Sabahan races and foreign immigrants (both legal and illegal) from the Philippines and Indonesia. The latter group forms a disproportionately large part of the population of Keningau as many of these immigrants come to Keningau to seek employment in the many agricultural plantations in the district.

The indigenous Sabahan ethnicities present in Keningau mostly speak Malay, albeit a distinct Sabahancreole form of it. The ethnic Chinese population speak the Hakka and Mandarin dialects of Chinese among themselves, but generally speak Malay when interacting with members of the indigenous races. Most of the Indonesian and Filipino immigrants also speak Malay in addition to their various native languages.

This monument was erected to commemorate Sabah's entrance into the federation of Malaysia. It was officiated on 16 September 1963. On the Stone is a plaque setting out the federal government's promises to the people of Sabah, as well as the reciprocal promise of Sabahans to remain loyal to the federal government. The Stone is currently located in the compound of the Keningau District Office.

There are eight public health clinics, one public hospital, one maternal and child health clinic, four village clinics, one mobile clinic and one 1Malaysia clinic in Keningau. Keningau Hospital is the main hospital in the Interior Division, and is therefore visited by patients from the surrounding districts of Nabawan, Sook, Tambunan, Tenom and beyond.